Growing Gardens … Here & There

Herb garden basket

This is an easy crafty gift that you can make and give as a nice gift – I made this last year for Mother’s Day and made extra herb signs for future gifts. The basket I picked up for $2 on clearance (bought 10), the clay pots are relatively inexpensive, the other basic items needed – soil to plant your seeds (you can use herb, flower or vegetable seeds) and twine to tie the sign to the basket. To make the herb (or flower or vegetable) sign to hang on the basket you will need polymer clay –

You can either use a mold to make little items to add to the sign or make them free hand or even purchase already made little items. For the base of the sign I flattened out the polymer clay and shaped in different forms, then I put the flattened sign and the little molds into the oven according to the instructions on the clay package (they all have clear instructions on how to harden the clay). Before I baked I did punch 2 little holes on the top for hanging. After everything cooled down from the oven, I glued the items on.

Then I hung the herb sign on the basket to create this Herb Garden Basket that Mom absolutely adored!

I did put a sealer over the finished sign and if you plan on doing something for the outdoors make sure the sealer is the right one. You can be as creative as you want with this idea – put plant markers in each plant, paint the recipient’s name on the sign, etc. Neat gift!